Yichang park to build toward 5-billion-yuan synthetic biology industry
2024-06-02 18:06:00
Translator and Editor: Tan Maolin
Journalist: Fu Jiangshan
Photographer: Fu Beibei
Yichang’s Hubei Synthetic Biology Industrial Park is on track to develop a synthetic biology industry with an annual output value of 5 billion yuan (US$690 million). The industry chain will cover fermentation raw materials and biomanufacturing, all originating from the yeast produced by Angel Yeast, a global yeast and biotech company based in Yichang.
Journalist: Fu Jiangshan
Photographer: Fu Beibei
Yichang’s Hubei Synthetic Biology Industrial Park is on track to develop a synthetic biology industry with an annual output value of 5 billion yuan (US$690 million). The industry chain will cover fermentation raw materials and biomanufacturing, all originating from the yeast produced by Angel Yeast, a global yeast and biotech company based in Yichang.
The production line of Angel Yeast (Yichang).
On May 28, a group of visiting journalists stopped by the automated production workshop of Angel Yeast (Yichang). They saw mechanical arms flying up and down, guided vehicles shuttling back and forth to transport goods, and packets of dry yeast coming out in rows from the production line, which will be tested and shipped across China.
The production line of Angel Yeast (Yichang).
The company can produce more than 2,000 tonnes of yeast and more than 1,400 tonnes of yeast extract per month, according to Cao Junfei, head of the yeast production department.
Angel Yeast (Yichang) is the first company to have settled down in the park. After its arrival, East China Pharmaceutical set up the joint venture Magic Health with Angel, while PhaBuilder partnered with Angel to open Weiqi Bio, both in the park.
Now there are four companies in the park which form a closely linked industry chain. Angel Yeast produces yeast and yeast extracts. Angel Enzyme specializes in enzymes and bioproducts. Magic Health focuses on nutritious and healthy food ingredients as well as functional ingredients for personal care. Weiqi Bio manufactures polyhydroxyalkanoates, a bio-based biodegradable material known widely as PHA.
Lei Zhaofang, head of the yeast extract production department of Angel Yeast (Yichang), said that yeast extract production requires more than 100kg of enzymes per day, which used to be mainly imported. Now it is directly supplied by the nearby Angel Enzyme. “The 13-tonne-per-year microbial-sourced lipids project will soon be completed. Thousands of tonnes of yeast cell walls, a by-product of yeast extract production, will be needed once it enters full production,” Lei added.
Zhang Wei, deputy general manager of Angel Enzyme, said: “Angel Yeast (Yichang) can provide a high-quality carbon and nitrogen source for the production of enzymes, which in turn can be used as a key raw material for the production of yeast extracts.”
On the outside wall of Angel Enzyme, three pipelines are connected with the factories of the Hubei Magic Health company next door.
Wang Xinghuo, executive vice president of Magic Health, explained: “The fermentation intermediates, separated during the production of enzyme, are our main raw materials. They can now be obtained directly through the pipelines.” Wang added that the first phase of the project has been put into operation to produce Vitamin and other products, which buys more than 20 tonnes of bacterial powder and more than 600 tonnes of fermentation intermediates per month from Angel Enzyme.
In the park, Weiqi Bio’s intelligent manufacturing project with an annual production of 30,000 tonnes of synthetic bio-PHA is under construction.
Zhang Yuntian, director of the equipment department of Weiqi Bio, said that the project is expected to reach trial production in the first quarter of next year.
Li Jin, head of the park, said: “The projects in operation and under construction in the park will achieve an annual output value of 5 billion yuan after all start production.” The park is recruiting more upstream and downstream companies to cultivate an industrial cluster with an annual output value of 50 billion yuan by 2035, Li said.
Angel Yeast (Yichang) is the first company to have settled down in the park. After its arrival, East China Pharmaceutical set up the joint venture Magic Health with Angel, while PhaBuilder partnered with Angel to open Weiqi Bio, both in the park.
Now there are four companies in the park which form a closely linked industry chain. Angel Yeast produces yeast and yeast extracts. Angel Enzyme specializes in enzymes and bioproducts. Magic Health focuses on nutritious and healthy food ingredients as well as functional ingredients for personal care. Weiqi Bio manufactures polyhydroxyalkanoates, a bio-based biodegradable material known widely as PHA.
Lei Zhaofang, head of the yeast extract production department of Angel Yeast (Yichang), said that yeast extract production requires more than 100kg of enzymes per day, which used to be mainly imported. Now it is directly supplied by the nearby Angel Enzyme. “The 13-tonne-per-year microbial-sourced lipids project will soon be completed. Thousands of tonnes of yeast cell walls, a by-product of yeast extract production, will be needed once it enters full production,” Lei added.
Zhang Wei, deputy general manager of Angel Enzyme, said: “Angel Yeast (Yichang) can provide a high-quality carbon and nitrogen source for the production of enzymes, which in turn can be used as a key raw material for the production of yeast extracts.”
On the outside wall of Angel Enzyme, three pipelines are connected with the factories of the Hubei Magic Health company next door.
Wang Xinghuo, executive vice president of Magic Health, explained: “The fermentation intermediates, separated during the production of enzyme, are our main raw materials. They can now be obtained directly through the pipelines.” Wang added that the first phase of the project has been put into operation to produce Vitamin and other products, which buys more than 20 tonnes of bacterial powder and more than 600 tonnes of fermentation intermediates per month from Angel Enzyme.
In the park, Weiqi Bio’s intelligent manufacturing project with an annual production of 30,000 tonnes of synthetic bio-PHA is under construction.
Zhang Yuntian, director of the equipment department of Weiqi Bio, said that the project is expected to reach trial production in the first quarter of next year.
Li Jin, head of the park, said: “The projects in operation and under construction in the park will achieve an annual output value of 5 billion yuan after all start production.” The park is recruiting more upstream and downstream companies to cultivate an industrial cluster with an annual output value of 50 billion yuan by 2035, Li said.
